Burton put a dent in Wednesday’s promotion ambitions, winning 3-2 at the Pirelli Stadium.

Four of the goals came in an action-packed first half during which the home side maximised their chances.

For all their possession, the Owls could strike only once before the break and Michael Smith’s late penalty was too little, too late.

John Brayford gave Burton the lead only to see Callum Paterson promptly equalise. Mark Helm’s brace put the hosts in charge and Wednesday had to chase the game thereafter.

Earlier, though, they were first to show, with Dennis Adeniran blazing over the bar following clever approach play from Paterson.

Barry Bannan then had two opportunities – one a curler from range, the other a low drilled effort – and both whistled just off target.

But from nowhere and their first attack on 21 minutes, the hosts took the lead. Deji Oshilaja delivered an inviting corner to the back post, where skipper Brayford climbed to nod down and in.

Wednesday were far from thrown off course and duly levelled six minutes later. Bannan sent Paterson racing through on the angle and the Scot’s finish into the bottom corner was emphatic.

But Burton were undeterred themselves and stunned the Owls with two quickfire goals that ultimately kept the points in the Midlands.

First, on 34 minutes, a deep hanging feed from Jasper Moon was headed into the danger zone by Sam Hughes and Helm nipped in to post his maiden Brewers goal.

Then, with three minutes barely having passed from the restart, it was 3-1. Helm picked up possession 25 yards out and looked up to send a whistling drive past the diving Cameron Dawson.

Lee Gregory had a half chance gobbled up by Craig MacGillivray at the other end, leaving Wednesday with a mountain to climb in the second half.

The task was almost eased immediately when Gregory pounced on Paterson’s flick but his shot across MacGillivray was inches past the post.

The Owls went on to boss most of the ball but Burton proved a tough nut to crack at the back given their two-goal cushion.

Rarely did the Brewers look like adding to their tally but in truth Wednesday only threatened in bursts.

That was until six minutes from time when the referee pointed to the spot after Joe Powell tripped Marvin Johnson.

Smith stepped up to send MacGillivray the wrong way to set up a tense finish but the earlier damage proved key and the story at the summit took another twist.

Wednesday: Dawson, Palmer, Flint (Dele-Bashiru 87), Famewo (Brown 70), Johnson, Vaulks, Bannan, Bakinson (Iorfa 62), Adeniran (Smith 62), Paterson, Gregory